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The Hydrodynamics of Flow Stimuli

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The Lateral Line System

Part of the book series: Springer Handbook of Auditory Research ((SHAR,volume 48))

Abstract

The lateral line system allows a fish to respond to changes in its surroundings by detecting flow stimuli that are governed by hydrodynamics. Therefore, an application of hydrodynamic principles offers insight into the information that is detected by the lateral line system. With this interest, investigators have employed a variety of hydrodynamic models to understand the fish lateral line. Models that neglect viscosity can accurately predict stimuli detected by canal neuromasts when predators locate prey in the dark. However, viscous forces have been shown mediate the signals detected by canal neuromasts, as illustrated in the obstacle detection of blind cavefish. Further, viscous boundary layers are essential to the functioning of superficial neuromasts, such as seen in how prey fish detect a fish predator. The application of computational modeling and flow visualization techniques are increasingly practical for understanding flow signals, even in the complex flows generated by a swimming fish or obstacles in a turbulent stream. The integration of these approaches with neurophysiological and behavioral techniques offers great promise for a deeper understanding of the lateral line system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 321 Steinhaus Hall, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA

    Matthew J. McHenry

  2. The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Department of Biology, University of Florida, 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., St., Augustine, FL, 32080, USA

    James C. Liao

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  1. Matthew J. McHenry
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  2. James C. Liao
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Correspondence to Matthew J. McHenry .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences and JP Scott Center for Neuroscience, Mind and Behavior, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA

    Sheryl Coombs

  2. University of Bonn, Institute of Zoology, Bonn, Germany

    Horst Bleckmann

  3. Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA

    Richard R. Fay

  4. Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

    Arthur N. Popper

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McHenry, M.J., Liao, J.C. (2013). The Hydrodynamics of Flow Stimuli. In: Coombs, S., Bleckmann, H., Fay, R., Popper, A. (eds) The Lateral Line System. Springer Handbook of Auditory Research, vol 48. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/2506_2013_13

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